Round 11

Saturday 27th Oct

Birmingham v Wigan
(-, 2-0, -, -, -, -)
It was Wigan's away form that saved them from the drop last season, but they are struggling so far this time. Only 1 pt to show from 5 away games, that from a draw at West Ham. Birmingham go W1, D2, L2 at home, the win a 1-0 against Bolton. Last 3 home games have featured just 1 goal.
Result: 3-2 Wigan lead twice but lose.

Chelsea v Man City
(3-0, 2-0, 0-0, 1-0, 5-0, -)
City haven't score at Chelsea since their return to the Prem 5 seasons ago. Chelsea haven't conceded in last 3 at home, but haven't score in last 2 either. They are still in a state of flux. Drogba has 3 goals in last 2 home apps v City.
Result: 6-0, 5 in 3 now for DD

Man Utd v Middlesbrough
(1-1, 0-0, 1-1, 2-3, 1-0, 0-1)
Can't be many teams who have as good a record as Boro at Old Trafford, 2 wins and only 1 defeat in last 6 apps there. Only 1 meeting that has gone over in the last 6 seasons.
Boro's away form is awful though, W1, L4, and they have lost by at least 2 goals in their last 3 away. Been behind in 3/5 at HT. Utd have yet to concede a goal at OT yet this season, that's 5 cs in a row. They have gone better than this once in the last 3 seasons, 7 consec at the end of the 05-06 season (number 6 in that sequence was Boro!). Utd won last 4 at OT and last 2 by more than 1 goal. All but 1 of their home matches have been 0-0 at HT.
Result: 4-1 Southgate leading Boro to new depths

Portsmouth v West Ham
(2-0, 1-1, -, -, -, -)
Can't fault Portsmouth home form so far, draws to Man U and Liverpool, easy wins over Bolton and Reading, 2 Champ challengers and 2 relegation strugglers. They led both winning games at HT. West Ham look like mid-table side this season and should provide a tougher match than Bolton or Reading. After winning their first 2 away games however they have lost their last 2 at Newcastle and Villa. Notable absentee for both losses was Bellamy, who made his return from injury at the weekend. West Ham trailed last 2 at HT.
Result 0-0 Portsmouth miss last min pen.

Reading v Newcastle
(1-0, -, -, -, -, -)
If Reading are not to get involved in a relegation scrap this season then their home form will be vital, as they seem atrocious away from home so far. They have won last 2 at home, must wins really against Wigan and Derby. Otherwise the 1-0 win against Everton in Aug was impressive, buit following that with a 3-0 loss at home to West Ham was not. Newcastle lost last 2 away: a non-display at Derby, and most recently simply outplayed at City (who seeminlgy can do wrong at home this season). Previous to that a win at Bolton and draw at Boro looked promising. Newcastle have scored first in 3/4 away. Reading done likewise in 4/5.
Result: 2-1 Big Sam doing nothing to change Newcastle's away form so far...

SunderlandvFulham
(-, 2-1, -, -, 0-3, 1-1)
Fulham have yet to concede the opening goal away from home in 4 matches, including visits to Arsenal, Chelsea and Villa. They have led at HT in all except Chelsea match. Sunderland scored 1st twice and conceded first twice.
Result: 1-1 Fulham still yet to concede opener away...

Sunday 28th Oct
Bolton v Aston Villa BEWARE OF NEW MANAGER! MEGSON INSTATED THURSDAY!!
(2-2, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 1-0, 3-2)
Villa unbeaten at Bolton in the last 4 seasons. Bolton opened the scoring in the last 3 meetings, but failed win any of them. Villa only played 3 away games so far this season, 2 draws at Newcastle and Spurs, and a defeat at Man City. Managerless Bolton have trailed 3/5 at HT and have conceded first goal in 4/5. Villa yet to score the opener away from home, but did lead last time out at HT, 3-1 at Spurs.
Result 1-1 Bolton score 1st and fail to win, again.

Derby v Everton
(-, -, -, -, -, 3-4)
Everton lost last 2 away, at Newcastle and Villa and were trailing both at HT. Derby have 1 win from 4 home matches and couldn't even manage a win against Bolton last time out. Derby have scored 1st in 3/4 at home, Everton conceded 1st in 3/5.
Result 0-2

Liverpool v Arsenal
(4-1, 1-0, 2-1, 1-2, 2-2, 1-2)
Liverpool on a good run historically at home to the Gunners, won last 3. 5 of last 6 have been overs. Crouch scored a hattrick last season in this fixture, but has yet to start a home game this season. Liverpool have only 1 home win in 4: 6-0 shellacking of Derby, otherwise 3 draws, the lastest 2 very disappointing against Spurs and Birmingham. Torres has scored in all 3 home games he has started. Arsenal only played 3 away so far, but all good results, draw at Blackburn and wins at Spurs and bogey-team West Ham bode well.
Result 1-1 4th draw in a row at home for 'Pool

Tottenham v Blackburn
(1-1, 3-2, 0-0, 1-0, 0-4, 1-0)
Decent record for Blackburn at Spurs, only 2 defeats in last 6. Plenty of goals at WHL as usual so far this season, 20 in only 4 matches. Spurs have trailed 2ce 3-1 at HT in those 4 matches (Everton and Villa) (that's a HT scoreline that doesn't appear very often, only twice in the last 3 Prem seasons, i.e. 570/1 shot!). Blackburn are unbeaten away in 4, wins at bottom-dwellers Boro and Sunderland, and very credible draws at Everton and Chelsea. Santa Cruz has scored 3 away goals in 3 starts for Blackburn.
Result 1-2 No goal for SC, but Blackburns good form at WHL continues